Minister’s confidence offers cold comfort to homeless families
Minister’s confidence offers cold comfort to homeless families - The Labour Party
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD responding to the Minister’s appearance on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland called on Housing Minister James Browne to back the Government’s change in turnkey housing policy with investment in a State Construction Company and the resources councils need to build homes.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“For too long, this Government has pumped public money into buying turnkey developments from private developers while failing to build up the State’s own capacity to deliver homes. We welcome its decision to change that approach, as Labour has urged, but the Minister must now back that decision with funding for direct public building.
“Local authorities need the staff and funding to deliver housing successfully. Changing how Government spends housing funding will achieve little unless councils have the capacity to get homes built.
“Labour has set out a clear alternative: transform the Land Development Agency into a State Construction Company and give local authorities greater control over construction budgets. That would allow the State to plan and build more social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes, with affordability at the centre of every decision.
“For people struggling to save a deposit while paying high rents, the test is whether they can afford a secure home on their income. The Minister must explain how this policy change will bring that prospect closer.
“Next week’s homelessness figures will provide another test of this Government’s record. The Minister says he is confident he can address homelessness, but he has offered no evidence to justify that confidence. Families raising children in emergency accommodation need urgent action, not empty promises from the Minister.”